View Poll Results: Is the possible problem for why it's not starting:
Bad grounding or connections
0
0%
Alternator
0
0%
Starter
0
0%
Fuel Pump
0
0%
Injectors
0
0%
Flooding
0
0%
Compression problem
0
0%
Something I haven't listed
0
0%
Voters: 0. You may not vote on this poll
Any Hope left in this RX7? Why won't it START ALREADY?
05-04-12, 11:10 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Any Hope left in this RX7? Why won't it START ALREADY?
Prior to my purchase:
Background history of my FC 1987 Mazda RX7 1.3-B N/A. This is a farm car. It came from the country and the car has been running in 2009, and he said when he drove the car around the block, it would sort of "chug" or sort of shake at low RPM levels. After a year and a half or so of the car sitting around during winter and summer on the farm, he has done a compression test on the TOP spark plugs while leaving the bottom ones in the bottom. He said the the results were around the 80's consistently for both chambers. This was 5-6 months ago.
After my purchase:
OK, so I have a FC 1987 Mazda RX7 1.3-B N/A that is NOT running. A week ago, I tried starting it, but it wouldn't start. The engine turned over and the starter worked (teuh-tuh-tuh-tuh-tuh-tuh-tuh). The lights came on and stuff on the inside. The oil was EXTREMELY LOW and very brown. There was no gas, and the battery was close to dead. The person who gave me this car said that he has done a compression test on the engine not too long ago, except he did it with the two TOP spark plugs. Does it matter if he did it on the top, will I get the same result if I do it on the top? Should I do another test?
And now..
And now...
I have recently changed the oil (10W-30 Castro GTX), put in a new oil filter and air filter in the car. I have taken the battery to be prepositionally re-charged, so now it's at full charge and ready to be put in and connected. There is good amounts of break flued left, and the antifreeze in the car is nice and full. I filled a 1/4 of the fuel tank, and checked all the belts to make sure everything is nice and solid.
IT DID NOT START.
What I'm suspecting: Bad grounding? Some sort of connection/wire problem? Sucky Alternator/starter? Bad fuel pump/leaky fuel injectors?
Flooding? I don't know what else...unless its the compression. Should I do another compression test? Help please!
IS THERE ANY HOPE LEFT? Help me out guys, I'm in desperate need of assistance! I have had this car for about a week and am kind of a newbie
Thank you!
Background history of my FC 1987 Mazda RX7 1.3-B N/A. This is a farm car. It came from the country and the car has been running in 2009, and he said when he drove the car around the block, it would sort of "chug" or sort of shake at low RPM levels. After a year and a half or so of the car sitting around during winter and summer on the farm, he has done a compression test on the TOP spark plugs while leaving the bottom ones in the bottom. He said the the results were around the 80's consistently for both chambers. This was 5-6 months ago.
After my purchase:
OK, so I have a FC 1987 Mazda RX7 1.3-B N/A that is NOT running. A week ago, I tried starting it, but it wouldn't start. The engine turned over and the starter worked (teuh-tuh-tuh-tuh-tuh-tuh-tuh). The lights came on and stuff on the inside. The oil was EXTREMELY LOW and very brown. There was no gas, and the battery was close to dead. The person who gave me this car said that he has done a compression test on the engine not too long ago, except he did it with the two TOP spark plugs. Does it matter if he did it on the top, will I get the same result if I do it on the top? Should I do another test?
And now..
And now...
I have recently changed the oil (10W-30 Castro GTX), put in a new oil filter and air filter in the car. I have taken the battery to be prepositionally re-charged, so now it's at full charge and ready to be put in and connected. There is good amounts of break flued left, and the antifreeze in the car is nice and full. I filled a 1/4 of the fuel tank, and checked all the belts to make sure everything is nice and solid.
IT DID NOT START.
What I'm suspecting: Bad grounding? Some sort of connection/wire problem? Sucky Alternator/starter? Bad fuel pump/leaky fuel injectors?
Flooding? I don't know what else...unless its the compression. Should I do another compression test? Help please!
IS THERE ANY HOPE LEFT? Help me out guys, I'm in desperate need of assistance! I have had this car for about a week and am kind of a newbie
Thank you!
05-05-12, 10:27 AM
#2
Engine, Not Motor
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If the car has been sitting for several years, then the entire fuel system will be trashed.
First, to make sure you aren't wasting you time, perform a quick and dirty compression test:
http://www.aaroncake.net/rx-7/blown.htm
Assuming you have compression, the fuel system needs to be cleaned and tested. Clean out the tank, test the fuel pump, flush all the lines, replace the fuel filter. Have the injectors professionally serviced (you'll likely find one or more bad ones).
Spark almost never fails of course you should check for proper spark, make sure the CAS is in the correct position, and make sure the wires are on the proper plugs.
These instructions will help greatly when trying to revive a car that has been sitting:
http://www.aaroncake.net/rx-7/unstore.htm
The Factory Service Manuals for all years of RX-7 (and many other rotary cars) can be downloaded for free here: http://foxed.ca/foxed/index.php?page=rx7manual . They contain all common service information information and more, and are an essential tool for any sort of service work that needs to be performed on these cars.
Additionally, the Haynes service manual for the 1986 thru 1991 RX-7 (both turbo and NA) can be found at most local auto parts stores or purchased from any good bookstore (ISBN number 1 56392 007 7). It is only about $25 and is a great quick reference for things like this. Not only does it contain most of the information in the FSM condensed into an easy to read format, but it includes full wiring diagrams as well.
These manuals will answer 99% of service related questions for the car and if you intend to do your own repair work, you will need at least one of them. Preferably both, since the FSM is a free download. The Haynes is a good quick reference covering 99% of questions, while the FSMs show complete and detailed procedures.
First, to make sure you aren't wasting you time, perform a quick and dirty compression test:
http://www.aaroncake.net/rx-7/blown.htm
Assuming you have compression, the fuel system needs to be cleaned and tested. Clean out the tank, test the fuel pump, flush all the lines, replace the fuel filter. Have the injectors professionally serviced (you'll likely find one or more bad ones).
Spark almost never fails of course you should check for proper spark, make sure the CAS is in the correct position, and make sure the wires are on the proper plugs.
These instructions will help greatly when trying to revive a car that has been sitting:
http://www.aaroncake.net/rx-7/unstore.htm
The Factory Service Manuals for all years of RX-7 (and many other rotary cars) can be downloaded for free here: http://foxed.ca/foxed/index.php?page=rx7manual . They contain all common service information information and more, and are an essential tool for any sort of service work that needs to be performed on these cars.
Additionally, the Haynes service manual for the 1986 thru 1991 RX-7 (both turbo and NA) can be found at most local auto parts stores or purchased from any good bookstore (ISBN number 1 56392 007 7). It is only about $25 and is a great quick reference for things like this. Not only does it contain most of the information in the FSM condensed into an easy to read format, but it includes full wiring diagrams as well.
These manuals will answer 99% of service related questions for the car and if you intend to do your own repair work, you will need at least one of them. Preferably both, since the FSM is a free download. The Haynes is a good quick reference covering 99% of questions, while the FSMs show complete and detailed procedures.
05-05-12, 08:55 PM
#3
Junior Member
Thread Starter
But is it worth fixing?
Okay, I forgot to mention this but I DO have a manual for the car. I am well aware on how to use it. 
Because the guy that had the car before me, what he told me he did was he put a little oil in the chambers along with a bit of gasoline, put the spark plugs back in, fired it up and guess what???
IT STARTED!!
But only for 5 seconds until the gas ran out. So I'm thinking that this isn't some sort of fuel problem. IT can't be the compression, I mean if the car fired and worked, even for a little, than what's the deal with checking the compression? I mean its not like its going o be any different because he used the top plugs instead of the bottom ones. Big whop, I don't think I'm going to get any different results than his (80 psi). Also, I don't have money to go out and buy a $30 compression tester so I can use it once and let it sit around for the rest of my life.
I want an opinion though, backed up by experience.
IS this car worth putting the time into to fix all the fuel stuff that you mentioned?
Because the guy that had the car before me, what he told me he did was he put a little oil in the chambers along with a bit of gasoline, put the spark plugs back in, fired it up and guess what???
IT STARTED!!
But only for 5 seconds until the gas ran out. So I'm thinking that this isn't some sort of fuel problem. IT can't be the compression, I mean if the car fired and worked, even for a little, than what's the deal with checking the compression? I mean its not like its going o be any different because he used the top plugs instead of the bottom ones. Big whop, I don't think I'm going to get any different results than his (80 psi). Also, I don't have money to go out and buy a $30 compression tester so I can use it once and let it sit around for the rest of my life.
I want an opinion though, backed up by experience.
IS this car worth putting the time into to fix all the fuel stuff that you mentioned?
05-05-12, 10:30 PM
#4
Retired Moderator, RIP
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Dude..sorry I gotta say this.
You just GOT an "experienced reply".
Who else has 25 Thousand posts,been here for 11 years,has his own website on rotary rebuilds and answered your question???.The guy above your last post.
Check the Fuel sysetm,clean it out,replace the crappy filter,gas,etc.
check the Air filter for barnyard critters as they like to nest there,and check the Air Flow meter to make sure it moves freely.
.........
Is it worth fixing?I don't know.It's your call.How much do you like the car and how much you want to spend on it?
You just GOT an "experienced reply".
Who else has 25 Thousand posts,been here for 11 years,has his own website on rotary rebuilds and answered your question???.The guy above your last post.
Check the Fuel sysetm,clean it out,replace the crappy filter,gas,etc.
check the Air filter for barnyard critters as they like to nest there,and check the Air Flow meter to make sure it moves freely.
.........
Is it worth fixing?I don't know.It's your call.How much do you like the car and how much you want to spend on it?
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